Public can weigh in on Ashland schools superintendent search

Today will be the first of three consecutive meetings organized by the Ashland School District to garner community input before considering who its new superintendent will be.

By Sam Wheeler

Today will be the first of three consecutive meetings organized by the Ashland School District to garner community input before considering who its new superintendent will be.

Comments will help the Ashland School Board identify candidates during the search process, said Carol Davis, the board's chairwoman.

All three meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

Today's gathering will be held at the Walker Elementary School cafeteria, 264 Walker Ave. Thursday's will be in the Ashland High School interactive video center, 201 S. Mountain Ave. And Friday's will be in the Ashland Middle School library, 100 Walker Ave.

The community's input is of "immeasurable value in the selection of our next superintendent," a district press release said.

Superintendent Juli Di Chiro will retire in June 2013 after 13 years in the post. Her 39-year career in education includes a 10-year stint as an elementary teacher in Los Angeles and various jobs as an administrator.

Di Chiro had told the board after signing her contract three years ago that it likely would be her last with the district.

In 2009, Di Chiro was named the Oregon Superintendent of the Year by the Oregon Association of School Executives.

During its July meeting, the board decided the Oregon School Boards Association would act as its search consultant in the process.

"Juli has provided outstanding leadership and has helped the district continue its traditions of excellence and innovation in instructional design, educational alternatives and technology integration despite significant fiscal challenges," the school board wrote in a letter to the community.

"She's always been willing to make the hard decisions for the benefit of the district," Davis said. "When you have a superstar, it's incredibly hard to find someone to top it."

For more information on the upcoming selection process, visit http://www.ashland.k12.or.us/ and click on the "Superintendent Search" tab on the right side of the page.